Side Effects Pt 2

[Gazzaswife]

So visit to the hospital didn’t go as hoped.

As I feared, not much understanding of husband’s side effects and my concerns about his pre existing conditions and his low mood due to 10 drops a day. Pressure in eye with failed trab was 30, so acetazolomide prescribed despite our reservations after side effects previously, like he had had a stroke. Reduced dose so hoping that will be ok. Talking about a shunt now, which is difficult because my husband is still working and doesn’t get sick pay.

My main complaint is that they are obviously very good at treating the condition and it’s symptoms, but they forget that they are treating a person. They know nothing about my husband because they don’t ask any questions. My question now is, 4 months after surgery he is still using steroid drops 4 times a day, although they say that might be what is driving the pressure up, they talked about weaning him off but nothing definite was decided, what is the point of acetazolamide if dexamethasone is still being administered?

[KieranGlaucomaUK Administrator]

Hi there. Steroid drops after surgery can sometimes go on for some time, and this will be decided on an individual basis. His eye specialist might still be detecting some inflammation after the trabeculectomy so these steroid drops will help this. I do see what you are saying, as steroids can increase IOP and be a problem for glaucoma.

The acetazolamide can be prescribed as a method to counteract the dexamethasone, however there are many eye drops that have a similar effect. Before they start weaning him off the dexamethasone, they might like to see how he responds to the acetazolamide first. If he has been given a reduced dose like you say, then it might be worth trying that, and then if there is still too much difficulty with it then I'd recommend giving the eye secretary a call, and letting them know that he wishes to try an alternative drop due to side effects.

[Gazzaswife in reply to KieranGlaucomaUK]

Thank you so much, he’s also using Iopidine, monopost, trusopt and tiopex so it’s quite a lot to deal with.

[Rainyday2024]

Hello, I would just like to say that following a Paul tube implant just over ten weeks ago, my consultant has said I can now reduce the number of times I use the steroid eye drops (Predforte). The pressure in the operated eye is still a little high, but he thinks this may be due to the steroid drops, so when I finally finish using them in couple of weeks time, it will be interesting to see if the IOP does go down. I read somewhere it was not a good idea to just stop them overnight, so it’s good that he is gradually weaning me off them! I have gone from using them every two hours, following the op, then gradually down to four times daily, then three times until now I am using them twice a day for a week, then once daily for a week, till I can eventually stop. Sorry if this sounds too much detail, but I am sure you will get the gist. It will be a relief to be able to stop these particular ones, as I am still using several other types of drops, including different ones for each eye! Thank goodness I like making lists - there is no way I could keep track otherwise. I hope your husband goes on alright. It is all such a worry, isn’t it?

[Gazzaswife in reply to Rainyday2024]

Thank you so much for your kind response. Yes it’s all very concerning, trying to balance the need to control the pressures with the side effects, very stressful!!